For those who've been waiting, the successor to Super Mario 64 has finally arrived.
Super Mario Galaxy recreates the same fantastical, imaginative feeling that wowed gamers over 11 years ago, and has done so in ways that make this chapter in Mario's adventures a classic in its own right. The play on gravity, coupled with some remarkably creative galaxies, classic Mario move sets, and a myriad of other nostalgic and fresh elements, make this game recommendable to any gamer and an instant classic.
Story
To steal from many of the reviews already out there on this game, Galaxy's story isn't its strong point, nor has story ever been the strong point of any traditional Mario platformer. Peach wants to give Mario something, which means he has to go to the castle to get it, which means something terribly wrong involving Bowser will occur. In other words, Princess will need saving. We all know it, we all love it.
Controls
Controlling Mario feels just a natural with a Wii remote and nun chuck as it did with a conventional controller. The nun chuck's analog stick moves Mario, while the Wii remote is used to collect star bits, perform jumps, and execute some fun motion-sensing actions. It's great to see that Nintendo didn't go the typical Wii route and implement gimmicky motion controls to ruin an awesome game. The Wii-specific controls are appropriately implemented with the right amount of frequency and creativity that they don't ever become repetitive or tiresome. Additionally, performing Mario's signature 3-D moves should feel intuitive to anyone who's played Super Mario 64 or Sunshine. His back flip, long jump, wall jumps, somersault, etc. are just as you would expect them - a combination of the jump button and a modifier (either a duck (Z), a direction, or multiple taps of the jump button). A new addition to Mario's move set is the spin attack, which is executed with a simple flick of the remote. This move either defeats enemies entirely or sets them up for a visit from Mario's boots.
Graphics:
If you've been following Galaxy through the countless screen shots and videos posted over the Internet, you know just how beautiful this game is. The funny thing is these media don't do the game justice. The moment you turn the game on, you'll be thrown back in awe by the game's visuals. The colors, textures, and design of the game's characters and environments are so well-done one might be persuaded that Galaxy was made for one of the more graphically capable consoles out right now, if one didn't know any better. The animation is top notch, the water effects are simply amazing, as are many of the surface textures and reflection, but the real feat is the game's worlds. Each galaxy has a different look and feel. The same can be said a lot of the time even about different parts of the same galaxy. One second your atop a grassy knoll of bright colors, the next your scaling the walls of a grim castle. It's obvious that the designer's went the extra mile to meet the standards set by Mario's first 3-D outing, and boy, do they hit the mark.
Audio
The game's sound effects are the typical fun/whimsical noises one would expect from a Mario game. They bring a great sense of familiarity to long-time Mario lovers, and make it hard for newcomers to not find them cute. Galaxy's music is a good mix of old and new. You'll hear some great music (like the theme used in many of Galaxy's trailers and commercials, which I absolutely love) new to the series, as well as some older music updated with orchestration to fit the game's environments and new setting. Each song is paired nicely with their environments or specific boss fight, which only adds to Galaxy's incredible universe.
Old and New
Aside from the music, Galaxy includes some new twists on old things. Super Mario Bros. 3 introduced to the series suits that extended Mario's capabilities beyond those of the fire flower and invincibility star. Those suits have returned in the form of items that transform Mario into a bee, ice Mario, fire Mario, even boo Mario. These suits are fun additions to the series and strike a good balance between innovation and nostalgia.
Closing Remarks
For those of you who've been waiting for the sequel to Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy is your game. It doesn't reinvent the 3-D platformer the way SM 64 did, but it does add to its formula some great game play mechanics and stellar visual and audio upgrades. For anyone with a Wii, this game is hands down the Wii's killer app. It's blend of old and new, undoubtedly gorgeous visuals, nice music and sound elements, and overall Mario-ness make Super Mario Galaxy one of the best Mario games released in a while, maybe even ever. Don't pass on this one, please.